The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-11-01

plices surround him, each having
particular role assigned to him in ad-
vance. When a rich betting man
makes his way TO bookmaker, some
of these accomplices crowd in before
him while others push him forward
from behind. He is jostled and el-
bowed by these rogues, whom he takes
to be betting men like himself, and
when he energies from the crowd he
has left his pocket-book in the hands of
the operator, who has not failed to take
advantage of his opportunities. The
booty passes from hand to hand to the
last accomplice, who is generally the
cashier of the band. The trick taken,
the pickpockets separate without stop
ping to see what they have got, and
begin another operation.
"Pickpockets have sources of in
formation more secret and sure than
those of the municipal police. Nothing
escapes them, and it is a common
thing for pickpockets in London and
New York to notify confederates in
Paris of the arrival of good sub
jects for the exercise of their
art As general thing. all
the pickpockets of the north
the English, Russians, Poles, and
Germans-are cold, methodical. auda-
cious, and persistent They rarely
abandon the victim they have determ-
ined to despoil. The German is an ex-
cellent tireur Pesbroufe, very old
kind of robbery, consisting in violently
running against q person and profiting
from his confusion by picking his peck
cts. He seldom frequents the races or
crowded stores. but may be seen at the
banks, where he watches persons that
draw money and sees into which
pocket they put it. The Germans also
excel in the uol az radin, which consists
in profiting from the momentary mat
tention of cashier TO make off with his
money.
THE Italian pickpocket knows his
extreme cleverness. He is con scious of
his superiority, and he laughs at every
European police force. He boldly re-
peats his robberies at the same locality.
although aware that complaints have
awakened the attention of the police.
Full of confidence in his art. and enjoy
ing his triumphs, he ends, however, by
falling into their hands. If he had the
prudence of the English pickpocket he
could defy all detectives of the uni
verse. He is the artist of pickpockets,
but, yielding to his southern ardor. he
is caught by his obstinate presence in
the same crowd. He never abandons a
favorite place until he has stolen all
that he can possibly steal. In an inter-
national reunion Of pickpockets he
would be unanimously chosen presi-
dent When he has thrown his eye on
pocket, his address deties all compe-
ton. By movement SO natural that
it escapes notice he feels Of a pocket,
weighs q purse, and appropriates it
with the greatest dexterity. When en-
gagged at his work he often purposely
excites the attention of his victim by a
slight and apparently accidental touch,
which permits him to present his OK
cuses in most amiable and gracious
manner. In point of dexterity the
Spaniard is his rival He operates un-
ostentatiously, with suppleness and
lightness of hand, but his movements are
not stamped with that charming grace
the secret of which the Italian alone
possesses.
1.-The pickpocket never wears glove
on his right hand, and to conceal his
movements he frequently carries
light overcoat on his left arm. In
winter an overcoat on the arm would
excite suspicion, and hence he carries
then a large handkerchief, which he
pretends to unfold to put around his
neck. At churches, balls, cafes, thea
tiers, the hat takes the place of the
overcoat and handkerchief. In the
slang of these malefactors, he who
takes the purse is called the main
(hand). The aids are called MONIES.
They are the pupils. the accomplices.
They must place themselves between Le
main and the crowd for the further Sc
curity of the former. 1t is their bust
ness 70 look out for the detectives and
to dispose of the victim in the way most
convenient for Ie nldin-whether by
elbowing and jostling him more or less
vigorously or by attracting his atten-
ton from the operator. The latter, in
order to conceal his right hand, raises
his left arm, on which rests his over
coat, so that the overcoat covers the
pocket that he intends to explore.
What precautions, what delicacy and
lightness Of touch he must employ, to
come off successfully Two fingers
only are introduced into the pocket
Lightly they raise the pocket-book,
which for an instant is held suspended
so that its owner shall not feel the
sudden tightening of his pocket At